What Not To Wear

I love the show "What Not To Wear."  If you don't know what I'm talking about, it's an American reality TV program where family and friends nominate a loved one who is clueless when it comes to fashion.  Once the person agrees to trash (or donate) their current wardrobe and shop by some "rules", they are given $5000 and a trip to New York City for a shopping spree, hair, and makeup.   Lately, my daughter and I have been watching old episodes online.  Stacey and Clinton, the hosts, are masters at transforming not only people's wardrobes, but their perceptions of themselves.  There are often tears shed as the contributors confront their body image issues, many times uncovering emotional reasons for why they dress the way they do, no matter what size they are.  As Stacey and Clinton are apt to point out, what you wear can be a reflection of who you are on the inside.  It's a powerful moment when the person realizes that simple changes in clothing can alter their entire attitude and outlook, and they emerge looking confident and beautiful (and sometimes 20 pounds lighter!)  Do clothes really have that much power?  When what you wear can put you in jail, yes, clothes have a lot of power.

Here in Brunei, I am definitely not concerned with fashion.  It's all about staying cool and comfortable in this tropical climate.  And everyone knows I love me some Crocs footwear.  Brunei is a Muslim country though, and with last week's implementation of the first phase of Sharia law, we are forced to consider what not to wear.  "Indecent dress" is punishable by a fine and/or jail time.  But what exactly is "indecent"?  The authorities haven't laid out a clear-cut dress code to tell us exactly what not to wear.  Of course, the local Muslim women are covered head to toe.  They wear colorful head coverings (hijab) that leave their faces exposed, unlike some Middle Eastern women who wear all black with just a slit for their eyes.  But for non-Muslims in Brunei, there are no specific "rules."  I assume that this is where common sense comes into play.  Obviously, cleavage is a no-no.  It seems reasonable that shoulders should be covered, but what about elbows?  Do we need to cover our knees, or is it ok to wear something that hits just above the knee?  Or should we play it safe and cover down to our ankles?   Yesterday I was going to go to the grocery store, but had on jean shorts and a sleeveless top at home.  I changed before I went, just to be safe.  But then I ran into a friend who had come straight from the pool in her swimsuit cover-up, and she said she felt like a heathen.  I told her I hoped she didn't get arrested, which sounds funny, but could that happen?  No one really knows.  What not to wear seems up for interpretation.  We don't have Stacey and Clinton to guide us, and the repercussions of wearing the wrong thing are steep.  For now, I will play it safe, wear capri pants,  and always carry a cardigan with me (which is a look that, along with my trusty Crocs, would likely get me nominated for What Not To Wear!)